By RIVER OKADA-MULAWKA
Among the buildings of Beloit College, one stands out as a diverse cultural center, while remaining one of the most outdated spaces on campus. The World Affairs Center, or WAC, was created in 1960 with the launch of the World Outreach Program, seeking to promote international education through seminars and study abroad opportunities.
The building has a blocky, yellow-tinted exterior, with an old-timey, ominous vibe in the interior. The huge pillars at the entrance seem to symbolize the grandeur and importance of the space. After walking in, you are greeted by flags from all around the world representing the interconnectedness of the college, something the establishment strives for. “I like looking at the flags surrounding the ceiling,” says Xavier Sosa’28, “because it shows how diverse our school is.”
This begs the question: is the college doing enough to promote the WAC? The school has undergone numerous renovations in the past two decades, most recently moving commons from Chapin to the Powerhouse. Necessary? Debatable.
In 2008, the college opened the doors of the new Science Center, which today is basically the heart of campus. If you’ve ever been inside you know just how modernized and nice it really is. However, it feels as though a college that prides itself on its international identity fails at promoting its center stage of international affairs, as seen in the poor quality of the building. According to Sosa, the restrooms have a wonderfully welcoming aroma of horseshit and “urea in that hoe.” The comparison between the two buildings is stark; “When you look at how new and how nice our Science Center is, it just shows what the school clearly values in comparison to the culture and actual language you learn in the World Affairs Center,” says Hannah Hanson’28.
All in all, the WAC is supposed to be a center devoted to the diverse cultures of the campus, but is undermined by the clear and overdue need for a fresh start. If the college believes what it says about priding itself on diversity, then it would find a way to bring about this change. In Hanson’s words, “That building… it needs some help.”
Featured Image: Beloit College
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